Oh, hey there, fellow film fanatic! We all love a good movie night, right? The thrill of a gripping story, the magic of stunning visuals, the sheer joy of watching talented actors bring a character to life. Movies are supposed to transport us, to make us laugh, cry, or scream in terror. But let’s be real, for every cinematic masterpiece, there are a whole lot of films that… well, they just didn’t get the memo.
Today, we’re not just talking about “bad” movies; we’re talking about the *worst* movies. The kind that make you wonder if you accidentally hit play on a fever dream. We’re diving deep into the absolute bottom of the barrel, exploring films that have earned a measly 4% or less on the dreaded Tomatometer, and with at least 20 reviews, so you know critics *really* had to suffer through them. This isn’t just about a few unlucky flicks; this is a carefully curated collection of cinematic disasters, films that inflicted a “minimum threshold of agony” upon anyone who dared to watch.
So grab your popcorn (maybe a strong drink, too), settle in, and prepare for a wild ride through the most notoriously awful movies ever to grace the silver screen. We’re about to explore the films that critics unanimously agreed were, shall we say, less than stellar. Get ready to cringe, question, and maybe even laugh a little as we unpack the epic failures that made our “Worst Movies of All Time” list. Let’s do this!
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1. One Missed Call (2008)
Next up, holding down the #2 spot with another pristine 0% score, is “One Missed Call,” a horror flick that apparently missed the mark by a mile. The critics didn’t mince words, labeling it “one of the weakest entries in the J-horror remake sweepstakes.” If you’re going to dive into a genre known for its chilling scares, you better bring your A-game, and according to the consensus, this movie showed up with a broken controller.
The film’s premise sounds like it *could* be creepy: Beth Raymond (Shannyn Sossamon) starts to witness the deaths of her friends, realizing there’s a sinister force at play. This kind of supernatural dread has worked wonders in other J-horror remakes, but “One Missed Call” was “undone by bland performances and shopworn shocks.” It seems the scares were as stale as last week’s bread, and the actors couldn’t quite elevate the material beyond its predictable pitfalls.
Directed by Éric Valette, and starring a cast including Shannyn Sossamon, Edward Burns, and Ray Wise, it’s a shame this movie couldn’t conjure up any genuine frights. Instead of bone-chilling terror, audiences were left with the equivalent of a dial tone – utterly boring. When your horror movie can’t even deliver on basic suspense, it’s clear you’ve made a wrong turn. It serves as a stark reminder that sometimes, it’s best to let sleeping horror concepts lie rather than re-awaken them without a fresh perspective.
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2. Left Behind (2014)
Oh, Nicolas Cage. What can we say? “Left Behind” (2014) blasts its way onto our list at #3, proudly sporting a 0% Tomatometer score. The critics didn’t just dislike it; they saw it as an act of cinematic devastation. Their consensus? “Yea verily, like unto a plague of locusts, Left Behind hath begat a further scourge of devastation upon Nicolas Cage’s once-proud filmography.” When critics start speaking in biblical plagues to describe your movie, you know you’ve done something… memorable, in the worst possible way.
The movie plunges the entire planet into “mayhem when millions of people disappear without a trace — all that remains are” their clothes and belongings. This sounds like a high-stakes, apocalyptic thriller, ripe with potential for drama and suspense. However, given the zero-percent rating, it’s pretty clear that potential was completely squandered. The rapture concept, while intriguing, seems to have been executed in a way that left critics yearning for anything but the actual film.
With Nicolas Cage leading the charge, alongside Chad Michael Murray and Cassi Thomson, one might expect at least a few moments of captivating absurdity, a Cage special! But alas, under the direction of Vic Armstrong, “Left Behind” appears to have been so profoundly unengaging that even Cage’s unique acting style couldn’t salvage it. It’s a true head-scratcher how a premise with such built-in drama could fall so flat, becoming less a gripping tale of the end times and more an agonizing test of endurance for its audience.
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3. A Thousand Words (2012)
Coming in at 3, with yet another dazzling 0% on the Tomatometer, is Eddie Murphy’s “A Thousand Words.” This one’s a real heartbreaker because Eddie Murphy is a comedic legend! So, what went wrong? The critics were quick to point out “dated jokes (A Thousand Words was shot in 2008) and removing Eddie Murphy’s voice — his greatest comedic asset — dooms this painful mess from the start.” Talk about a self-inflicted wound! Taking away Eddie Murphy’s voice is like taking away a comedian’s mic.
The synopsis introduces us to Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy), a “selfish literary agent whose fast-talking ways allow him to close any deal.” His next big deal, however, seems to get him into some magical trouble where he can only speak a thousand words before he dies. The entire premise hinges on the comedic brilliance of Eddie Murphy being silenced, which, as the critics keenly observed, strips him of his most potent tool. It’s an ironic twist that ended up being tragically unfunny.
Starring Eddie Murphy, Kerry Washington, and Cliff Curtis, and directed by Brian Robbins, the film had some serious talent attached. Yet, the material itself, perhaps because it sat on the shelf for four years, simply couldn’t land. It feels like a high-concept comedy that didn’t understand its star’s strengths, resulting in a “painful mess” that nobody, not even the most devoted Eddie Murphy fan, could enjoy. Sometimes, a “clever” premise can be the very thing that sinks a film, especially when it fundamentally misunderstands its lead actor’s appeal.
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4. Gotti (2018)
At 4, we have “Gotti” (2018), which, surprise, surprise, also scored a big fat 0% on the Tomatometer. The critics’ consensus on this one is short, sweet, and perfectly brutal: “Fuhgeddaboudit.” If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know about a mob movie, I don’t know what will! It’s the kind of consensus that becomes legendary for its sheer bluntness and spot-on accuracy.
The film attempts to chronicle the life of John Gotti, from his upbringing on the “streets of New York” to his eventual rise “into the Gambino crime family.” This is a story that has all the makings of an engaging gangster epic – power, betrayal, drama. John Travolta steps into the shoes of the notorious mob boss, a role that could have been a career highlight. However, the critical reception suggests the execution was less “Godfather” and more “fish head in the bed.”
With John Travolta starring, alongside Spencer Rocco Lofranco and Pruitt Taylor Vince, and directed by Kevin Connolly, “Gotti” had a lot going for it on paper. But even a committed performance from Travolta couldn’t save a film that was apparently so devoid of merit that critics could only offer a two-word dismissal. It’s a sad day when a mob story, a genre usually rich with dramatic tension, falls completely flat, becoming an offer audiences absolutely *could* refuse.
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5. Pinocchio (2002)
Coming in at 5,with an equally unfortunate 0% (from 55 reviews), is Roberto Benigni’s “Pinocchio” (2002). This one is especially tragic because it’s an adaptation of a beloved classic. The critics were not charmed, stating that “Roberto Benigni misfires wildly with this adaptation of Pinocchio, and the result is an unfunny, poorly-made, creepy vanity project.” “Creepy vanity project”? Yikes! That’s not exactly the magical, heartwarming tale we remember.
The synopsis is simple enough: “A woodcarver creates a puppet (Roberto Benigni) that longs to become a real boy.” It’s a tale as old as time, filled with lessons about truth, bravery, and the desire for humanity. But when the star and director are the same person, and the critics use words like “misfires wildly” and “unfunny,” it suggests a film that lost sight of its audience, focusing instead on a singular vision that just didn’t translate.
Starring Roberto Benigni himself, alongside Nicoletta Braschi and Carlo Giuffré, the film was clearly a passion project. However, passion alone isn’t enough to make a good movie, especially when it veers into the “creepy” territory while trying to tell a children’s story. This “Pinocchio” serves as a cautionary tale: sometimes, even the most classic stories need a fresh, objective pair of eyes (and a better script) to truly shine. It proves that not all dreams of becoming a “real boy” result in a cinematic triumph.
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6. SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)
Rounding out our first section of cinematic trainwrecks at 6, with yet another glorious 0% (from 49 reviews), is “SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2.” Oh, the sequel nobody asked for! The critics were absolutely flabbergasted, noting a “startling lack of taste” pervading the film and offering “further proof that bad jokes still aren’t funny when coming from the mouths of babes.” It seems that tiny tots with big brains couldn’t save this mess from being utterly cringe-worthy.
The premise is… something. “Toddlers use their special abilities to stop a media mogul (Jon Voight) from altering the minds of children.” Yes, you read that right. Jon Voight, an Academy Award winner, is playing a media mogul whose nefarious plan involves brainwashing kids, only to be foiled by, well, super-powered babies. It’s the kind of plot that sounds like it was dreamt up in a sugar-induced haze, and executed with about as much coherence.
Starring Jon Voight (seriously, Jon Voight?!), Scott Baio, and Vanessa Angel, and directed by Bob Clark, “SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2” really leaned into its ridiculousness, but not in a good way. The “bad jokes” and “lack of taste” clearly overwhelmed any potential for innocent fun, turning it into a film that probably should have remained in the nursery. It’s a testament to how badly a sequel can go wrong, especially when its predecessor wasn’t exactly a critical darling to begin with.
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7. The Last Days of American Crime (2020)
Next up on our cringe-worthy cinematic tour, we have “The Last Days of American Crime,” a 2020 thriller that committed a major offense against good taste and engaging storytelling, landing at 7 with a pristine 0% on the Tomatometer. The critics’ consensus? A gloriously concise and utterly devastating “This Crime is punishment.” Honestly, when a two-word review perfectly encapsulates a film’s quality, you know you’re in for a truly special kind of bad. It sounds less like a movie title and more like a warning label you should have heeded!
The premise itself sounds like something pulled straight from a high-concept graphic novel: two men and a woman are desperately racing against time to pull off “the heist of the century.” The ticking clock isn’t just a deadline; it’s the impending arrival of a government-broadcast signal that will “wipe out crime forever.” Talk about high stakes! This kind of dystopian crime thriller *should* be a nail-biting, thought-provoking ride, brimming with moral dilemmas and explosive action.
You’d expect intricate character motivations, clever twists, and enough adrenaline to keep you on the edge of your seat. Instead, critics found it a laborious, drawn-out ordeal. It’s baffling how such fertile ground for intense drama and suspense could yield such a dull harvest. The ambition was clearly there, but the execution, well, that’s another story.
Despite starring talents like Edgar Ramírez, Michael Pitt, Anna Brewster, and Sharlto Copley, and directed by Olivier Megaton, “The Last Days of American Crime” just couldn’t make its bold concept stick the landing. It’s a film that promises a thrilling, desperate last hurrah for criminality but delivers only a punishing experience for anyone brave enough to watch. Sometimes, even the most intriguing “what if” scenarios can go horribly wrong on screen.
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8. The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
Hold onto your cowboy hats, folks, because we’re heading West for our 8 spot, which goes to Adam Sandler’s 2015 “The Ridiculous 6,” with a truly astounding 0% on the Tomatometer. This Western spoof generated controversy even before its release. The critics, it turns out, confirmed the worst, calling it “every bit as lazily offensive as its cast and concept would suggest.” Ouch!
The consensus went further, declaring it “standard couch fare for Adam Sandler fanatics and must-avoid viewing for film enthusiasts of every other persuasion.” That’s a pretty damning recommendation. It clearly aimed for funny but, according to the vast majority, shot itself in the foot with a rusty revolver, missing all targets except “epic failure.”
The film attempts to tell the story of White Knife (Adam Sandler), an orphan “raised by Native Americans.” He then discovers that “five outlaws are actually his half-brothers,” and together, they embark on a quest “to find their deadbeat dad.” This premise, while ripe for parody in the right hands, quickly devolved into what many considered a parade of tired gags, problematic stereotypes, and humor that just didn’t land. A Western that rode off into the sunset of ignominy.
With a massive ensemble cast including Adam Sandler, Will Forte, Taylor Lautner, and Steve Buscemi, you’d think there’d be enough comedic firepower to hit *some* targets. However, under the direction of Frank Coraci, “The Ridiculous 6” seems to have lassoed nothing but disdain. It’s a prime example of a film that tried to capitalize on a genre’s tropes and its star’s brand of humor, only to produce something universally panned.
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9. London Fields (2018)
We’re nearing the end of our current descent into movie madness, and at 9, we find “London Fields” (2018), another film proudly showcasing a 0% Tomatometer score. This movie had a lot going for it on paper, based on “beloved source material” from Martin Amis’s acclaimed novel and featuring “an intriguingly eclectic cast.” Yet, the critics were harsh, declaring it “bungles its beloved source material… leaving audiences with a would-be neo-noir of interest only to the morbidly curious.” That’s a fancy way of saying, “Don’t bother unless you’re into confusing cinematic car crashes!”
The plot introduces us to Nicola Six (Amber Heard), a “clairvoyant femme fatale” who is living under the shadow of a “dark premonition of her impending death by murder.” Adding to the intrigue, she starts “to entertain three men, one of whom she knows will be her murderer.” This sounds like a classic, stylish neo-noir thriller, full of mystery, tension, and dark glamour.
Instead, what audiences reportedly got was a convoluted mess. The film, despite its rich narrative potential, struggled to translate the complexities of its source material to the screen, turning a captivating puzzle into an unintelligible jumble. It became less a stylish whodunit and more a frustrating “what just happened?” experience. The “dark premonition” for the character seemed to extend to the critical reception of the film itself.
With a cast including Amber Heard, Billy Bob Thornton, Theo James, and Jim Sturgess, and directed by Mathew Cullen, there was a wealth of talent. However, “London Fields” became another unfortunate example of how a compelling premise and strong cast can still result in a critical flop. It tried to be a captivating, stylish whodunit, but instead, it became a film that even dedicated mystery lovers couldn’t untangle.
10. **The Nutcracker (2010)
And finally, for our grand finale in this section of cinematic nightmares, we have “The Nutcracker” from 2010, landing squarely at 10 with a resounding 0% on the Tomatometer. What’s even more remarkable, and frankly, a little baffling, is that despite having 28 reviews, the critics’ consensus simply states: “No consensus yet.” That’s right, folks! It was so bafflingly bad that the critics couldn’t even agree on *how* to roast it. They were probably still recovering, trying to process what cinematic fever dream they had just witnessed.
This adaptation takes us to “Christmas in Vienna,” where 9-year-old Mary (Elle Fanning) finds her holiday “a dull affair.” That is, until her “beloved Uncle Albert (Nathan Lane) arrives with a gift: a magical nutcracker that comes to life.” It’s a classic holiday tale, filled with wonder, magic, and charming characters. But this film version, directed by Andrey Konchalovskiy, seems to have turned Christmas cheer into cinematic dread, missing the enchantment and hitting all the wrong notes.
Instead of a whimsical journey, audiences were reportedly treated to a visual and narrative spectacle that confused and alienated. It’s a prime example of how a familiar and beloved story can be so thoroughly reinterpreted that it becomes unrecognizable and, more importantly, unenjoyable. The expectation of festive wonder quickly evaporated, replaced by a sense of bewildered disappointment as the film veered wildly from its beloved source material.
With a cast that includes Elle Fanning, Nathan Lane, John Turturro (as the Rat King, no less!), and Frances de la Tour, you’d think the magic would be undeniably magical! Instead, “The Nutcracker” (2010) became infamous for its bizarre creative choices and its bewildering execution, transforming a cherished ballet into a confusing, unwatchable film. It truly shows that sometimes, even the most classic stories can be turned into a spectacle of cringe.
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Phew! What a journey, right? We’ve navigated through some truly spectacular cinematic failures, films that proved even big stars, beloved source material, and bigger budgets can’t guarantee a good time. From action flicks that forgot the action to comedies that forgot the funny, and even a holiday classic that forgot the magic, these movies have etched their names into the hall of shame. They serve as cautionary tales for aspiring filmmakers and a stark reminder to us all to check that Tomatometer score before hitting play. But hey, at least we can all agree on one thing: sometimes, a really bad movie can be *so* bad, it’s almost good for a laugh… almost. Keep those remotes handy, film fanatics, and may your next movie night be a masterpiece, not a misery!
